The first puck of the 2019-20 NHL season drops tonight, but the opening odds to win the Stanley Cup won’t come as a shock.
That is unless you think Lightning strikes in the same place twice.
Before the start of the new season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have the best chances to win the 2020 National Hockey League Stanley Cup at +700 odds, according to the odds from Bovada Sportsbook.
Odds to win the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup
- Tampa Bay Lightning +700
- Toronto Maple Leafs +850
- Vegas Golden Knights +1000
- Boston Bruins +1100
- Colorado Avalanche +1200
- Louis Blues +1500
- Florida Panthers +1800
- Nashville Predators +1800
- Dallas Stars +1600
- San Jose Sharks +1800
- Washington Capitals +2000
- Calgary Flames +2000
- Winnipeg Jets +2500
- Pittsburgh Penguins +2500
- New Jersey Devils +2500
- New York Islanders +3500
- Carolina Hurricanes +3000
- Philadelphia Flyers +3300
- Chicago Blackhawks +3300
- Edmonton Oilers +3300
- Montreal Canadiens +3500
- New York Rangers +4000
- Arizona Coyotes +4500
- Vancouver Canucks +4000
- Columbus Blue Jackets +6000
- Minnesota Wild +5500
- Buffalo Sabres +6600
- Anaheim Ducks +8000
- Los Angeles Kings +8000
- Detroit Red Wings +8000
- Ottawa Senators +20000
After tying the NHL record with 62 wins, securing the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, and having the best Stanley Cup odds heading into the playoffs, the Lightning were swept 4-0 in the first round by the Wild Card Columbus Blue Jackets.
And since Lighting never strikes in the same place twice—at least within a short time frame—the team is hoping to avoid a similar collapse and is seeking to redeem themselves during the 2019-20 season.
“We could sit and pout in the corner, but it’s not going to change anything that happened last year,” team captain Steven Stamkos told the Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa Bay isn’t the only first-round losers from last season that have favorable odds this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs have +850 chances at the Stanley Cup during the 2020 playoffs.
John Tavares, who signed with the team last summer and is expected to be announced as the team captain tonight, is optimistic about the team’s chances entering this season.
“I believe we can be the team right at the end lifting the trophy,” Tavares said.
The reigning champion St. Louis Blues have +1500 odds to repeat as Stanley Cup winners this year, sitting behind the Vegas Golden Knights (+1000), Boston Bruins (+1100), and Colorado Avalanche (+1200).
The 2019-20 NHL season officially begins tonight with four games, including the defending Stanley Cup champions taking on the Washington Capitals at 8:00 pm ET on NBCSN.
NHL opening night betting lines
@Bovada
Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (-1.5)
- Total goals: 6.5
- Odds: Ottaway +225, Toronto -275
Washington Capitals vs. St. Louis Blues (-1.5)
- Total goals: 5.5
- Odds: Washington +130, St. Louis -150
Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers (-1.5)
- Total goals: 6
- Odds: Vancouver +110, Edmonton -130
San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-1.5)
- Total goals: 6.5
- Odds: San Jose +150, Vegas -170
